Celebrities are using their platforms to call for change amid the ongoing protests following the death of George Floyd.
Selena Gomez took to Instagram on Thursday (June 4) to share an image of the painting titled “Speak With Confidence” by Charly Palmer.
“After thinking about how best to use my social media, I decided that we all need to hear more from Black voices,” she wrote in the caption.
“I will be highlighting influentials leaders and giving them a chance to take over my Instagram so that they can speak directly to all of us,” she announced, adding, “We all have an obligation to do better and we can start by listening with an open heart and mind.”
Shawn Mendes is likewise helping to raise up young Black voices, handing over his social media to ‘young Black changemakers on the frontlines.’
Sharing a photo of Zyahna Bryant, who wrote the original petition to take down the Robert E. Lee statue in Virginia, he wrote, “I’ve decided to hand over my platform on Instagram & give my stories for the next few days to some incredible young Black changemakers on the frontlines in the fight against systemic racism. Please receive them with love and solidarity. The first is @zysaidso. You can also head over to @shawnfoundation‘s IG for more information on her efforts.”
In his first public statement on the ongoing protest, Leonardo DiCaprio shared that he is committed to “listen, learn and take action” and pledged to help “end the disenfranchisement of Black America.”
Leo also said he will “support those individuals, organizations and coalitions that are committed to bring about long-term change,” and highlighted the organizations that he will be donating to, namely Color of Change, Fair Fight Action, The NAACP and Equal Justice Initiative, and urged his social media followers to do the same.
Angelina Jolie has donated $200,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
“Rights don’t belong to any one group to give to another. Discrimination and impunity cannot be tolerated, explained away or justified. I hope we can come together as Americans to address the deep structural wrongs in our society,” she said in a statement. “I stand with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in their fight for racial equality, social justice, and their call for urgent legislative reform.”
Noah Centineo reposted a guide “Non-monetary support. Being an ally doesn’t stop when we are in a bind financially.”
The guide includes a number of ways to help and show support including watching shows like 13th, When They See Us, and Black Lives Matter activist videos, petitions that you could sign, accounts to follow on Instagram and reposting helpful information.
Riverdale’s Vanessa Morgan previously called out the show for its lack of representation. She later clarified that she didn’t blame her co-stars for the situation, writing, “My role on Riverdale has nothing to do with my fellow castmates/friends. They don’t write the show. So no need to attack them, they don’t call the shots & I know they have my back.”
She also vowed, “I will no longer take roles that don’t properly represent us. PERIOD.”
Riverdale creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has since responded with a statement on social media.
“We hear Vanessa. We love Vanessa. She’s right. We’re sorry and we make the same promise to you that we did to her. We will do better to honor her and the character she plays. As well as all of our actors and characters of color,” Roberto wrote in a post on Instagram. “Change is happening and will continue to happen. Riverdale will get bigger, not smaller. Riverdale will be part of the movement, not outside it. All of the Riverdale writers made a donation to @BLMLA, but we know where the work must happen for us. In the writers’ room.”
